APTX 4869
APTX 4869 (四八六九 Yon-Hachi-Roku-Kyuu), code-named Prototype Detective, is a fictional toxin and derivative of an experimental formula of unknown purpose developed by Shiho Miyano, which is used by the Black Organization as an untraceable, lethal poison.
APTX is an abbreviation of "Apoptoxin," and, as the name implies, it involves the activation of apoptosis: the mechanism by which cells kill themselves. APTX contains ingredients which have other functions as well. It contains a component which activates telomerase: an enzyme which lengthens the caps at the end of DNA whose length limits the number of times a cell can divide.
In practice, most of the time APTX 4869 works as a lethal poison. Gin says it can't be detected when used, possibly indicating it leaves few traces that forensic examination could uncover. However, in very rare cases, it causes the apoptosis of non-neural cells only and the apoptosis stabilizes at some point, causing the victim's apparent age to be decreased while leaving higher thought processes, memory, and personality unaltered. Shinichi, the series' protagonist, is such a victim; later Shiho Miyano, who chooses to attempt suicide by using her own drug, was added to the two known people to have survive after taking the APTX-4869 throughout the series.
Contents
Reversing the effects
Throughout the series there are several instances in which the APTX was temporarily neutralized and Shinichi and Shiho were returned to their actual age forms. The main ingredient for this reversal is a component found in baijiu, which Ai has already incorporated in a prototype antidote for the APTX.[1]
It is to note that in the instances where Shinichi or Shiho were successfully changed back, the recipient was suffering from a common cold while the component was ingested, indicating that the immune system somehow has to be taxed for the antidote to work.[2][3][4] While not canon, Crossroad in the Ancient Capital uses this idea as Conan is given a pill to give him the symptoms of a cold, while drinking baijiu.
Though no explanation was given, Conan and Haibara briefly reverted to their true age while having rum cake in the non-canon live action Shinichi Kudo Returns! Confrontation with the Black Organization.
Speculation about the original intent
Shiho Miyano said that she didn't intend to create a poison,[5] which suggests that APTX 4869 was originally developed with a different goal in mind. It probably was just a useful side effect that the current prototype kills while leaving no trace in the victim’s body, and was thus employed as a poison - a usage which Haibara detests.[6] Additionally APTX4869 is nicknamed the "incomplete detective" by the Organization, which means its true purpose has not yet been achieved.
Immortality/anti-aging
One possibility is that the goal of the APTX 4869 is to develop a therapy which will cause immortality, stall or reverse the effects of aging, or extend a human's lifespan. The de-aging effect that occurred when Shinichi and Haibara took APTX 4869 probably indicates the main intent of the drug's development. After Pisco saw Haibara shrink back to her child form, he commented that he was impressed she had developed the drug to that point, implying that deaging is in the right direction.[7] Supporting this is Ai’s line, "Kudo-kun? You would probably never even dream that you are already part of a project the Black Organization has been working on already for half a century."[8] APTX 4869 is the only known intersection between Shinichi and the B.O.; meaning that Shinichi's de-aging made him relevant to the Black Organization's project.
According to Haibara’s description about APTX 4869[9], APTX4869 acivates telomerase, an enzyme which can increase the number of times a cell can divide, and therefore affect a cell's lifespan and “reproductive potential”. The goal of this might be to revert all non-neural cells to a "youthful", high reproductive potential state.
Vermouth's unnatural youth is another indicator that the Organization may be involved in research towards extending lifespan, halting aging, or rejuvenating the body.
Raising the dead
The original purpose of APTX 4869 might be to raise the dead. Once when Conan asked Haibara directly what APTX 4869 was meant to do she replied, "It's a nostrum to raise the dead. I wonder if that answer is satisfactory?"[10] It may be her comment was a bluff intended to provoke Conan into revealing what he had been up to rather than a serious statement of the purpose of the drug.
References
- ^ Manga Chapters 092-095: The Great Detective of the West
- ^ Manga Chapters 092-095: The Great Detective of the West
- ^ Manga Chapter 241: The Bullet from the Past
- ^ Manga Chapters 255-257: The School Play Case
- ^ Manga Volume 18, File 9, page 9
- ^ Manga Volume 18, File 9, pg 9
- ^ Manga Volume 24, File 11, pg 9
- ^ Manga Volume 19, File 9: Chapter 191: Episode 130-131
- ^ Manga Volume 24, File 10
- ^ Manga Volume 32, File 8, page 8: "The Old Picture"
